Viña Morandé (bodega Pelequén)

The winery

Viña Morandé was born in 1996 as the project of Pablo Morandé, the winemaker who in 1982 had planted the first vines in the Casablanca valley. Its operational hub is now in Pelequén, municipality of Malloa, in the Cachapoal Valley, 122 km south of Santiago: there the Bodega Pelequén receives grapes and vinifies, stores and bottles an essential part of the portfolio. Also in Pelequén, Bodega Aventura opened in September 2022, designed by architect Samuel Claro, built partly underground and conceived to move wine by gravity. It is the laboratory of the team led by winemaker Ricardo Baettig since 2011: concrete eggs, buried amphorae, lagares (treading vats), open vats, foudres and stoneware ceramic vessels sit side by side for trials of grapes and techniques.

The vineyards the winery describes are in other valleys: Belén, 130 hectares of high-density planting in Lo Ovalle (Casablanca); El Romeral (50 hectares) and San Bernardo, in the Maipo; Santa Elena and La Constancia, in the dry-farmed lands of the Maule; Campo Ránquil (17 hectares), in Itata, with vines more than 130 years old; and Traiguén, in Malleco. From San Bernardo comes House of Morandé, its Cabernet Sauvignon-based icon blend, created in 1999; from a 1.96-hectare parcel in Ránquil, El Cabernet de Ránquil, with a production of 2,000 bottles; from the coastal dry-farmed lands of the Maule, the VIGNO of Carignan and Syrah, tied to the Vignadores de Carignan association, in whose founding Pablo Morandé took part; and from Malleco, the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of the Black Series. The range continues with Casatinta, the Adventure line of uncommon grapes, the sparkling wines from Casablanca and the late-harvest wines. According to the house, it is certified under the Wines of Chile Sustainability Code for vineyards, winery and community.

What you can do in Pelequén today without an appointment is walk into the Wine Shop, at the Cruce Pelequén, km 122 of Ruta 5 Sur, which sells the full range with special offers and exclusive products. The official website lists opening every day, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 17:30 and weekends 9:30 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 17:30; its online store extends weekday closing to 18:00 and Google marks it closed on Sundays, so call ahead. The contact page also invites you to schedule a visit, but publishes no itinerary, tasting, price or times: ask through its form or on the shop's phone numbers. No restaurant or accommodation is published, and House Casa del Vino, its former wine-tourism center in Casablanca, has closed. From outside the area, the wines are bought in the Cava Morandé online store, with home delivery.